I agree with above poster. When I first saw the distressing I thought it was a "before" picture showing how beat up the island was. Sorry, I don't mean to be too brutal!!

You asked. Paint it and forget the distressing.

I agree, the distressing does not look very good. Paint it, either white to match the cabinets, or dark. I think a dark color would look great with the counters and floor.

Paint it a dark royal blue/light navy. And fix the distressing if it's taken hunks out of the wood. It's not a good look.

Yep. Paint it dark. I love the colors you have in there, by the way.

I confess I'm not big on distressing so I can't be objective about that. I can say that you sure got it distressed! Looks much more authentic than most distressed pieces. :)

It was dark at one point (poor quality photo attached). I thought it was too contrasting. So, should I paint the whole island dark...including the bead board, doors, and drawers? I like the previous poster's idea to go with a warm copper color.

Tank you all for your honest input!

I would paint the entire thing one single color that is different from the perimeter cabinets. IMO that will make it look more like a separate piece of furniture. I don't think it has to be dark. Maybe a paler shade of the gold that's on the walls?

No to dark. I don't know about copper. Do you have a sample of your granite and your floor tile you could take to a paint store? Perhaps get a sample size container of paint, paint a piece of wood with it, and see how it looks against the granite and floor before committing to painting the whole island.

You desperately need COLOR. Not another brown anything. Barn red maybe, or a sunny yellow. Nothing too bright, but nothing too muddy either.

I agree that it should all be painted one color, and the last pic of it partially painted - that color was too dark. Other than the granite, walls and floor, do you have any other accent colors in there? Maybe the darkest color of your back splash tile and then possibly with dark wax? Waxing does add a nice layer of 'patina' and also protects the paint. The wax may then also pick up your accent over the sink and the dark faucet color.

I so appreciate everyone's comments...thank you!

So after I read and re-read the comments, here are my thoughts:

I'm kind of diggin' the idea of painting the whole thing the same color as my walls, but then applying a dark/antiquing wax over it to deepen the color a bit so it pulls in the granite. Also, I will refrain from distressing it since everyone agreed that it didn't look right. Thoughts?

I think I'd upload your picture into a painting program (there are some online where you can do this), or even into the simple Paint program that is on your computer.

Then, I'd play around with "painting" the island a few different colors and see what looks best. You can post the options here if you want more feedback.

Have fun! : )

For those of you that asked or suggested accent colors:

I do have some, but they are the decor (on top of cabinets). I do LOVE the teal on that plate!! Maybe that color with a dark wax?!?!?!?

Kanka, sounds like a great idea to me! I am also agreeing the distressing won't work. I think distressing works best on wood stained pieces, not on paint.

Per Laughable's suggestion, here is my kitchen photo uploaded to a paint app. Of course this doesn't have a dark wax option, but...

I'm not so good with color, so I won't be of any help with island. But may I ask what the name of your backsplash tile is?

Dilly_ny: it is Tumbled Marble 3x6 tiles from Lowes. They are usually located on bottom shelves in gray boxes (10 tiles per box). I then used Du Pont Stone Sealer & Enhancer to give it a nice rich, creamy tone. I used three coats, but you can do less for more white hues or more coats for creamier hues. ;)

The golden yellow paint brings out the pink undertones in the floor. I think you need to get the yellows out of the room.

Maybe a softer teal.
Diane

There's too much yellow already. The wall color isn't the direction that the stone and the cabinets are demanding. They want something cooler and less saturated. The teal island would work well though!

Just from the photo I think the butterscotch doesn't go with the floor. I love the color teal, but I think painting the island teal would be very jarring against the rest of your finishes. Perhaps there is a shade in the mosaic over your sink that could tie in with the floor & granite?

So someone suggested blue and since it is across from yellow on the color wheel...I gave it a try via this paint app. Thoughts? Is this a good direction to go?

Hi,

I know that I'm a little late chiming in here, but my suggestion would be a wood color similar to the color in the tile over the cooktop -- a dark walnut stain??

I like the Deep Sea Dive. It'll take a lot of stripping to prep the island properly for paint after you've touched it with wax. It's worth it though. And keep any wax far away from any of your cabinets in the future.

Can you remove the yellow walls in the last photo (blue island)?

I was coming on to post when I saw may_flowers already said it: your floors have pink undertones and that harsh gold on the walls is really emphasizing that (and the contrast of the yellow undertones on the countertops). The first thing I would do would be to lighten your walls to a neutral.

Ugh...
I'm not repainting the walls. I feel the lighting is pulling whatever pink you see in the photos. Perhaps I should stick to white like the rest of the kitchen.
Thanks anyways. ðÂÂÂ

I was looking for a concise post on Mariah Killiam's website about why pinky colors don't work well with yellowish colors, and I couldn't find it in the time I have to look. But, if you have the time, her site is well worth the read-through. It will help you to see what folks here are saying about the yellow walls not playing well with your tiles (which are beautiful, by the way.)

http://www.mariakillam.com/mutedpalette/

What I suggest you do is this: Once you understand the undertones of the colors that are existing in your tiles (most of us aren't uses to paying attention to this, so it can take a little practice), find a fabric that has those undertones in its print that really appeals to you. This print can become your color palette for the room. If there are windows in the room, I'd be looking for curtains with the pinky beige undertones in their print. If no windows, then seat cover fabric, fun towels, a rug, or a decorative plate, etc.

Take a close look at the colors in the print and draw from it the the main color for your walls and the accent color for your island. If it's fabric from the fabric store, chances are good that there are registration circles filled with each color that was used in the print on the outside edge of the fabric. You can match these circles of color to paint chips to help pick out your colors. I'll include a short video clip of Sarah Richardson, a decorator out of Canada, explaining this technique. It shows how to do what Mariah is explaining in the above link quite well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Using Fabric to Inspire Your Room Design

White would look good. Not exciting, but good. Black would probably be safe too. All one color. The last blue you have isn't bad either. I might even think about a little glaze on the white beadboard if you want it to look like a separate piece instead of part of the original kitchen. (I'm not generally a fan of glazes and prefer to add dirt naturally, but I think it might work here.)

I don't mind the walls with the floor, and of course they look different in person so you have to be the real judge of that. I like the glow!

Okay, regroup. Your main elements are at odds with each other, so you are wasting time and money trying to make it work. You've put in granite and a backsplash with a medallion. It looks high-end, sophisticated, and expensive. Those are the permanent elements you have to work with. But you've got country cottage beadboard and cheery yellow walls that clash with your floor. I think painting the island teal will add to the cottage feel. I'd redo the island in a richly-stained alder that complements the granite, using the door style of your cabinets for the sides. I'd also make the base a little chunkier. Get rid of the cottage elements all together.

may_flowers I couldn't agree with you more!! That is spot on as far as I'm concerned. The medallion gives more of a european feel. The rich stain would bolster the look of sophistication. Also softening the wall color to between your floor color and the lightest backsplash tile color will help.

May_flowers: I totally understand what you are saying here. I just don't think I have it in me to tear apart the island and start over. I do believe I can cover up the bead board by adding a 1/4inch panel with a similar look as my cabinet doors; however, is is possible to achieve the rich wood look with paint alone?

Thank you for not giving up on this post and continuing to add your opinions...I greatly appreciate it. ðÂÂÂ

Can you remove the yellow walls in the last photo (blue island)?

Okay, call me crazy. If it were mine, I'd prefer painted white or wood stained a rich walnut, and draw in color from accessories. But if you want something really different that could give a warm, coppery look, you might consider cladding that beadboard in the thin copper sheeting that's used to clad countertops. Either a dark gold-copper (called a jewer's blend, I think) if you can get it dark enough, or a roja finish. I've seen it done on cabinet door panels. See link to some sample finishes. Antique H&H even sells pierced pie safe tin and copper, IIRC, but that is definitely too rustic your kitchen, I think. But again, I'd love plain old white, myself.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sheet Metal

mags438: I'm not sure how to remove a color so I just made the walls white. Is this what you wanted? ðÂÂÂ

Ultimately...THIS pic is what I wanted. I know my island (and kitchen) is WAY small, but I was hoping it could work anyway. ðÂÂÂ

The walls and the island in your inspiration picture are much paler than the yellow of your walls and the SW Needlepoint Navy.

The size of your kitchen can handle the feel of the colors in your inspiration picture. : ) On my screen those colors look like a very pale, neutral beige on the walls and a light bluish gray on the island (but the blog says the island is a pale sage green-go figure.)

If you are going for a soft subtle look, you need to look at some quieter colors. If you want the colors to be bold and intense, go with deeper colors like the yellow of your walls and the rich turquoise or needlepoint navy.

The color of the island in the inspiration photo works because it doesn't clash/compete with the granite top. The gold paint in the kitchen is less saturated than what you have, and only a border near the ceiling.

If the inspiration photo is what you wanted your kitchen to look like, I don't understand why you chose the flooring, granite, backsplash, and bold gold wall paint you did. To me- the inspiration kitchen is low key, subdued. Yours is warm, vibrant.

Maybe I just lack imagination, but I think you have enough contrast between the warm golds and the crisp whites to not need to paint the island a color unrelated to anything else in the room.

I just came across this picture and it made me think of the yellow of your kitchen and the scrollwork of your chairs. Would something like this work for you?
{{gwi:2134988}}

llucy: You make an excellent point. Full disclosure: We are selling this home this summer (job relocation) and did a minor facelift to the kitchen. I was not about to tear out the tile floors or repaint (personally, I love the color of my kitchen. It's a venetian plaster that is bright and cheerful). I never had the intention of painting the island anything but white; however, after looking at pictures and chatting with friends...it kind of came into play. But, now I'm here...stuck. ð again, I feel I'm back to going with plain old white.

How do you ladies feel about painting just the bead board? Too crazy?

Since you're putting the house up for sale soon, yep, just paint the bead board a non-funky color. Whoever buys the home will probably want to put their stamp on the kitchen anyway.

Maybe we will see the new owner here on GW asking for suggestions about what to do with the island and you can chime in! :-)

Personally I think you need to get your perimeter cabinets more harmonious with your hard surfaces.. They appear too white to me when your creamy/brown backsplash/floor/and counter call for something more creamy to me. Only then will you be able to play with different colors for your island.

llucy: ð¢ ð awww, I hope they don't hate the island that much that they'd want to change it. I know, I know...their taste is not my taste, but it's hard to think someone will change it after all the time and money.

Anywho, here is the other angle of my kitchen from dinning room. I guess white is best.

I would do it in black to tie in your medallion, your hardware and counters. Plus the bead board will be more subtle looking. I think black would look like a nice neutral, but give the feel you want to.

Well Kanga, as you've seen from this thread...there are people who would change your wall color, change your cabinet color, who would do any number of different things with the island. lol.

No point in thinking about what a future owner might or might not do. In your shoes, I'd be thinking about the kind of kitchen I'd like to have in my NEW place. Exciting.

llucy: lol! So true and yes, we are very excited! You're right, I shouldn't be consumed with the future owners. Let me just say...its a billion times better than the original kitchen! ðÂÂÂ

Okay, bare with me...one last option: brown?

lyfia: here is black
???

Brown is definitely the best here because it ties in with the granite/BS/floor. But that just makes me want to mellow the white of your cabinets even more.

For resale, black ties in best. I wouldn't do white. The dark color grounds the space best. But, for resale, that yellow wall color is way too vibrant for most people's taste.

GreenDesigns: the fixtures are oil rubbed bronze - so does the black still work best?